Policing scandal delays release of SA’s latest crime statistics

The breakdown and number of crimes committed in South Africa between the start of April and the end of June, as recorded by the SA Police Service (SAPS), should have been released to the public already.

But this is yet to happen.

It means we do not know if violent crimes, including murder and attempted murder, have increased or decreased compared to the previous three months.

We also do not know if gang violence has picked up or abated in South Africa’s gangsterism capital, the Western Cape, where multiple shootings are constantly reported.

The same not knowing applies to which police stations — and therefore the areas where we reside — have experienced a surge or drop in different kinds of lawbreaking.

‘Important link’

The SAPS website details the significance of its statistics, saying they are “an important link in the value chain of the statistics system [that] informs policy development and planning in the criminl [sic] justice system”.

An official crime statistics release calendar for the 2024/2025 financial year, which National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola signed off on, shows that quarterly crime statistics are usually released within the second month after the period under scrutiny ends.

Previously released reports say that this should happen “six weeks after the reference period”.

Read more: Alarming surge in police killings highlight leadership chaos and deep flaws in law enforcement

So, the the first quarter figures covering the three months ending in June should have been publicly presented in August or September already.

The delay in delivering them could now see six months’ worth of statistics released over the coming weeks because newer quarterly statistics — from the start of July to the end of September — are meant to be released in November.

‘No date’ yet for crime statistics

On Monday, 27 October, Daily Maverick asked police ministry spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi when the first quarter statistics would be released and what had caused the delay.

She replied: “There isn’t a date yet as to when the statistics will be released.”

Mogotsi referred Daily Maverick’s questions about the delay to the SAPS, but no response had been received from the SAPS by the time of publication.

Read more: SA’s delayed crime statistics highlight urgent need for transparency and accountability in reporting

The delayed first-quarter crime statistics previously surfaced in Parliament during a hearing of the ad hoc committee that is investigating allegations that a drug trafficking cartel has infiltrated South Africa’s law enforcement and political administration.

‘Turmoil’ and ‘truth’

On 10 October, the DA’s Lisa Schickerling, who the previous month had called for the “immediate release” of the statistics, questioned Masemola about the issue.

He had been testifying as a witness before the ad hoc committee.

Schickerling asked him if it was fair to say “inner turmoil” involving policing was “contributing to the delays” in the statistics being made public and the overall functioning of the SAPS.

Masemola had replied: “Of course, that’s true… I cannot deny that, yes indeed.

“I mean, there was a change of ministers and there was a lot of things to be done, and yes, but it [presumably the first-quarter statistics] will be released soon.”

The Police Ministry and SAPS subsequently issued a joint statement saying the statistics would be released on 16 October.

But this did not happen.

Again, this loops back to the repercussions of the policing scandal and Masemola’s reference to “a change of ministers.”

On 16 October, sidelined Police Minister Senzo Mchunu began testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee.

It is not exactly clear why the first quarter crime statistics were not released on that day, but the commencement of Mchunu’s testimony may have played a role in the decision not to present the figures.

Mkhwanazi and ministerial changes

Mchunu was named as being part of the policing scandal in July when KwaZulu-Natal’s police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, made astounding allegations during a press conference.

These included that organised crime accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was financially backing the political aspirations of Mchunu, who at that point had not yet been placed on leave.

Mchunu has denied knowing Matlala or receiving anything from him.

Read more: Mchunu uses ‘dangerous man’ crime accused Matlala’s affidavit to defend himself

But Mchunu was placed on special leave in July because of the allegations against him.

This paved the way for Firoz Cachalia to become acting police minister in Mchunu’s place. He was sworn in on 1 August.

‘Drugs and corruption’ priorities

The last time official police crime statistics were released was in May.

At the time, Mchunu, who was still police minister, said: “The annual crime statistics will be released in September; these will give us an overall picture of the crime statistics for the 2024/2025 financial year.”

This has not happened.

Mchunu had also said the police ministry flagged priorities including gender-based violence and “dismantling organised crime, including drug trafficking syndicates … and combating corruption, both within the SAPS and across the country.”

Ironically, Mchunu was placed on special leave in a scandal involving allegations about drug trafficking and corruption involving police officers. DM